Buoyant device



J. MEDIN BUOYANT DEVICE Jan. 2, 1962 Filed April 26, 1960 res This invention relates to a water ybuoyant device and has for its principal object the provision of a novel device which may be used in case of emergency or for pleasure; in the first instance the device constituting a life saving means and in the latter instance constituting a portable float.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a water buoyant device wherein the wearer will be sus tained afloat in a body of water and will thereby be prevented from drowning.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a water buoyant device wherein the saine is designed as a life preserver when worn and which will allow freedom of movement of the arms of the wearer.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a Water buoyant device which will support an injured man without requiring cooperation from him.

An additional object is to provide a device of the character described which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to apply and adjust, positive in action, and efficient and durable in service.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction herein set forth, and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the claims liereinto appended.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, showing the same in a folded condition;

FIG. 2 is a View in front elevation of the device of FIG. 1, showing the same in condition for immediate use;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the view of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned view along the line of 4--4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly PIG. l, the device of the invention comprises a foldable con tinuous buoyant device iti, which is adapted to be worn by a human being. As shown in FIG. l, the buoyant device is worn in the folded position until it is desired to enter the buoyant medium. As shown more clearly in FGS. 2-4, the device l of the invention consists of a flexible fabric 12, suitably rubber or plastic, having six separate lloats affixed thereto and preferably therein, suitably of foam rubber. When placed upon the wearers body a oat 14 is adjacent the chest of the wearer and the remaining floats are adjacent the back sides of the wearer. Namely, float 16 is adjacent the wearers neck and head, float 18 the wearers back, float 20 the wearers lower back and thighs, and floats 22 and 24 the wearers lower legs. Optionally, a separate cap 26, shaped from buoyant material may also be worn to add buoyancy to the wearers head. The oat 16 is preferably incorporated in the continuous fabric 12 in a section Z8 located between the float 14 and the lloat 1.8. The float 16 is smaller than the section 28 and the fabric `12 is cut out in this portion Z8 on three sides along the edge of the iioat 16 and the strips remaining in the fabric section Z8 form straps 30 and 32. When the device 10 is put on, the

arent wearers head is inserted through the continuous fabric 12 at this point and the ilo-at .716 pivots out of the Way on fabric section 34. In the preferred embodiment, the oat 2t? is provided with stabilizing fins 36 and 38, to aid in maintaining the wearer on an even keel in the water.

A comparison between FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrates how easily the device 1d of the invention may be folded. The lower leg floats 22 and 2 4 are folded over on fabric section 49 and between the stabilizing fins 36 and 38 and against float 2i?. Float 1o is folded on fabric section 34 onto float 18, and the float unit 28, 22 and 24 is folded on fabric section 42 onto the float 18. The device once in the folded position is held thusly by straps 44 and 4o which extend from the inside bottom of float 2@ and which terminate in eyelets which hook onto toggles 48 and Sil on ioat 14. lt is merely necessary to slip the straps 44 and 45 oif the toggles 43 and 5@ and the device lid will open and fall into place. Preferably the device lll is then securely held in place by straps 52, 54, 56 and 58 which are tied 'around the wearers legs. Strap o@ is attached to iioat 18 and is tied around the wearers chest. in addition to the above, the device is held in place by the straps e2, 64 which extend from the inside of float 18 and are provided with `a series of eyelets o6 which slip onto toggles d8, 7i? which are secured to float 14. By slipping the proper eyelets do onto the toggles 68, 78 the device maybe adjusted to the proper size for various wearers.

it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the device without departing from the scope of the invention, and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawing and described in the specilication but only as indicated in the appended claims.

l claim:

1. A folda'ble buoyant device for a human being consisting of a continuous ilexible fabric having at least six separate floats of buoyant material secured thereto in such relation that one of said lioats is adjacent the back of each of the lower legs of said human so that each of said lower legs is free to move independently of one another, one of said lioats is adjacent the lower back and thighs of said human, one of said oats is adjacent the back. of said human, one of said floats is adjacent the neel: and the back of the head of said human, and the last of said lioats is adjacent the chest of said human; said neck oat being secured to a pivotable partially cut out section of said continuous fabric so that an aperture is present for the wearers head; and means for tying said continuous device to the body of said human being.

2. The foldable buoyant device of claim l wherein said floats are incorporated within said fabric.

3. The foldable buoyant device of claim 2 wherein stabilizing tins form a part of the lower back float.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,182,841 Edmonds May 9, 1916 1,366,345 Bailey lan. 25, 1921 1,758,289 Loy May 13, 1930 2,021,713 Borino Nov. 19, 1935 2,871,491 Van Vorst Feb. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,967 Great Britain 1915 599,997 Great Britain Mar. 25., 1948 

